The Detroit Lions have arguably one of the most talented, well-coached special teams units in the NFL. The superior play of the Lions’ special teams unit was a big part of the team’s success last year, accounting for 142 of the team’s 564 points. Therefore, it’s hard to understand why Detroit’s special teams were given such a low ranking.
Detroit Lions Special Teams Unit Given Undeserved Low Ranking
Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp has done an exemplary job, coaching and bringing out the best in his athletes. Now in his fifth year with Detroit, he was previously the special teams coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bringing out the Best In Lions Special Teams
Detroit has the NFL’s top punter and one of the league’s best field goal kickers. According to Lions’ head coach Dan Campbell, the Lions’ special teams is their most consistent unit . “I think Fipp is a superstar. I just think he’s an outstanding teacher and he’s high energy, and I think you have to be both to be a good special teams coach.”
Most media outlets agree that Detroit has one of the most complete rosters. Nonetheless, the Lions’ special teams unit ranks in the bottom half of the league. Subjective rankings of offensive and defensive players may be reliable, but when it comes to special teams, the ratings can be misleading . If you look closely at the statistics, the low ranking just doesn’t add up.
Detroit Lions Kicker Jake Bates
Lions field goal kicker Jake Bates
has one of the strongest legs and was among the most accurate field goal kickers in the league last year. Bates has a gift for delivering crucial kicks in high-pressure scenarios.
However, according to ESPN’s rankings,
he comes in at a lowly number 16 out of 32 kickers in the NFL. In a head-scratching move, ESPN ranked 12 other NFL kickers with lower point totals, higher than Bates.
The Lions’ offense took advantage of every opportunity to reach the end zone, with the team rarely having to settle for field goals. When the offense scores a combined (passing and rushing) 70 touchdowns, more than any other NFL team, the opportunity for Bates to kick a field goal is significantly lower than many of his NFL counterparts. However, when called upon, Bates delivered. He converted 26 of 29 field goal attempts last year for 89.7 percent. He also had the most extra points in the league, contributing 64 of 67 extra points for 95.5 percent.
Only four other kickers ranked higher than Bates. Pittsburgh Steelers veteran kicker Chris Boswell is the number one ranked kicker in the league with 158 points from 41 out of 44 field goals and 35 out of 35 extra points. Dallas Cowboys’ Pro Bowl kicker Brandon Aubrey and L.A. Chargers’ Cameron Dicker are tied for the number two spot with 150 points. Chase McLaughlin from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers claims the next spot with 144 points. Tied for the next spot with Bates is Houston Texans’ kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn , with 142 points.
The Best Punter In the NFL
The Lions’ Jack Fox is undisputedly the best punter in the league. ‘The Fantastic Mr. Fox’ made the Pro Bowl last year as the NFL’s top punter. Currently in his fifth season with the Lions, Fox led the NFL in average punt distance at 51.0 yards. His longest punt was 68 yards.
When you have an offense that can score on six or seven consecutive possessions, there isn’t much of a demand for punting. The Lions didn’t punt once during the Lions’ 52-6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars .
However, with the Lions’ high scoring success, Fox had the fewest punts in the league last year at 45. But Fox makes the most of every opportunity. His accuracy resulted in 22 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and only four touchbacks.
Before joining the Lions in 2020, Fox played briefly with the Kansas City Chiefs
as an undrafted free agent. Under the skillful coaching of Fipp,
Fox has developed into an outstanding Pro Bowl-caliber talent.
In addition to pinning Lions’ opponents deep in their territory, Fox also has an impressive arm and a great passer rating for a punter. He’s completed four out of five fake punts for 61 yards. Last year in week two against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Fox tossed a stunning 17-yard pass to Sione Vaki
that resulted in another Lions’ offensive score.
Kickoff and Punt Return Statistics
The other factor influencing the ranking is based on kickoff and punt returns. Detroit was one of six NFL teams to record a punt return touchdown and one of seven to record a kickoff return touchdown last season. The Lions‘ punt return touchdown was scored in Week 8 in a game against the Tennessee Titans by Lions’ wide receiver and return specialist Kaliff Raymond .
In that game, Raymond was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, becoming the first player in NFL history to score a punt return and a receiving touchdown in the same game. In addition, his total of five punt returns for 190 yards in a single game was the fifth-most in NFL history .
Here’s where things get even more interesting: Raymond’s 413 punt return yards topped the NFL last season. In addition, Raymond’s 13.8-yard punt return average ranked as the NFL’s third-best. Although Marvin Mims of the Denver Broncos was recognized as the AP All-Pro punt return specialist, Raymond earned AP Second Team All-Pro punt return specialist honors for the second time in the last three seasons.
So just to recap, the Lions have one of the top field goal kickers in the NFL, the league’s best punter, and one of the most explosive and productive punt returners. Does that sound like a special-teams unit that should rank in the NFL’s bottom half? Over the years, pundits have made a practice of discounting the Lions, and more recently, MVP-caliber quarterback Jared Goff . Nevertheless, the Lions keep winning games, proving their critics wrong and smashing records. Don’t be surprised if the Lions’ special teams unit ends up being one of the league’s best in 2025.
Main Image: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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